Macedonia

Centre-back David Bates could win his first cap in seven years after being added to the Scotland squad for the matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

Bates, playing with Amedspor in Turkey, won the last of his four Scotland caps in 2019 and replaces fellow defender Luis Binks, who has withdrawn.

As well as spells in his homeland, 30-year-old Bates has club experience in Belgium, England and Germany, with most appearances coming at Mechelen.

Luke Graham, Jack Hendry and Ryan Porteous are the other central defenders in Sebastien Pocognoli’s squad, though left-back Kieran Tierney can also operate in the head coach’s preferred back three.

Brondby’s Binks won his first three caps during Scotland’s opening four Nations League fixtures, in which they picked up four points.

North Macedonia, who travel to Hampden on Friday, have no points in the section, with Slovenia three points better off than Scotland and Monday’s hosts Switzerland on maximum points.

Scott McTominay has revealed he received treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat two days before Scotland’s World Cup win over Haiti in June.

The Napoli midfielder recently underwent an ablation procedure – a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms – in Manchester.

At the World Cup, the 29-year-old was was put to sleep to correct his heartbeat and was given the all clear to play in the opening 1-0 victory over Haiti in Massachusettes.

“I had to go and get the shock on my heart,” the former Manchester United player, who also also played the 90 minutes in the losses to Morocco and Brazil, said.

“I was two days before the Haiti game. You’ve prepared so well. I was in such good condition and then something like that happens. You’re thinking, ‘how is this happening to me’?

“You have to get on with it, that’s the cards that you’re dealt in football. Sometimes, things don’t go your way.

“I was 100% [fit], but obviously, whenever you’re sat in a hospital bed two days before the first game of the World Cup about to get put to sleep, it’s not ideal, is it?”